The step from national to international competition is mostly an administrative one. You ride the same tests and courses, but the paperwork around it changes: an international competition falls under the FEI (the international equestrian federation), not the KNHS (the Dutch equestrian federation), and that comes with its own registrations, documents, and deadlines. Here is the process in broad outline, so you know what needs to happen and when.
FEI Registration for Rider and Horse
For an international start you need two things that are separate from your KNHS startbewijs: a registered rider and a registered horse with the FEI.
- Rider registration. You apply for an FEI ID and an annual license. In the Netherlands this runs through the KNHS as the national federation, not directly with the FEI. The KNHS checks your details and forwards the registration.
- Horse registration. The horse receives its own FEI registration, linked to a passport (see below). This, too, is arranged through the federation.
Count on this not being a matter of a single day. The application runs through your national federation and can take several working days to weeks, especially around the start of the season when everyone registers at once. So start well before your first planned start. The exact rates and current procedure are on knhs.nl and fei.org; these change per season, so check them there rather than relying on loose figures making the rounds.
The FEI Passport and Identifying the Horse
Every horse that competes internationally must be unmistakably identifiable. That's what the FEI passport is for (or a national passport with an FEI-recognized recognition card). It includes, among other things:
- The horse's description and chip number
- Ownership and lease details
- The vaccination record, notably influenza (equine flu)
That flu vaccination is a stumbling block many first-timers underestimate. The FEI sets requirements for the schedule and for the interval between the last vaccination and the competition, and a vaccination entry that isn't correctly recorded in the passport can mean you're turned away at the inspection. Have your veterinarian check the schedule and the entry in good time. The precise intervals are set out in the FEI rulebook (Veterinary Regulations) on fei.org and can change; don't rely on what a fellow rider at the stable remembers.
Applying for a passport, or having an existing passport validated, takes time. Anyone who discovers only two weeks before the competition that the passport isn't in order will almost certainly not get it sorted in time.
Entering Through the Federation
International entries don't go through the regular KNHS competition system, but through FEI channels, with your national federation as an intermediary. The pattern is usually:
- You select a competition from the international calendar (for example a CSI or CDI at a star level that suits you).
- You notify the KNHS of your intended participation, and it registers you as a combination with the organizer.
- The organizer confirms whether you've been accepted — at larger competitions there's a selection process or a waiting list.
Start small. Ride your first international competition at an accessible star level in a reachable country, not at a five-star show on the other side of Europe. Lower levels have smaller fields, milder selection, and lower costs, and you learn the routine there without the stakes being high right away.
Transport and Crossing Borders
Within the EU, traveling with a horse is relatively straightforward, but it isn't free of formalities. For commercial and competition transport across the border, you'll usually need:
| Document or requirement | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Valid passport with vaccinations | Identification and health status |
| Health certificate / TRACES notification | EU notification of animal transport across a border |
| Transporter's license for longer journeys | Legal transport requirement from a certain travel time onward |
| Proof of roadworthiness for the trailer/truck | Safety and welfare en route |
The thresholds (from which travel time onward which license is needed) are set out in EU transport regulations and, in the Netherlands, enforced by the NVWA (the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority). If you're traveling to a country outside the EU, a heavier process is added: inspections, quarantine requirements, and more extensive certificates. For a first start, a destination within the EU is therefore considerably simpler.
Many first-timers outsource the actual driving to a professional horse transporter who handles the paperwork routinely. That costs money, but it removes most of the risk of being turned away at the border. If you do it yourself, take plenty of time to check with the NVWA and the federation which documents your specific journey requires.
Stabling, Accommodation, and the Day Itself
At an international competition, you often arrange your stay in advance:
- Stabling. Stalls are usually booked through the organizer, sometimes including a mandatory first delivery of bedding and hay. Book early; at popular competitions, stalls fill up before start places do.
- Veterinary inspection. At many international competitions there's an arrival or vet check where the passport, chip, and vaccinations are checked before you're allowed to start. Make sure your papers are right at hand.
- Your own accommodation. Lodging around major competitions is scarce and pricey during competition week. Arrange it early.
Always bring the passport with you physically — it's your ticket into the stables and the ring, not just a formality.
Prize Money and Administration
If you win prize money abroad, administration comes with it. Payment usually runs through the organizer to the owner or the registered account, sometimes after withholding tax in the country where the competition is held. The tax treatment depends on your situation: whether you compete as an individual or as a business, which country you're taxed in, and which tax treaty applies.
This isn't something to handle by feel. If you earn more than occasional prize money, get advice from an accountant or tax adviser who works with athletes or entrepreneurs. Keep track of your entry, transport, and stabling costs from the start; in many cases, you can offset these against your income.
In Short
- Arrange FEI registration for rider and horse through the KNHS, well before your first start.
- Make sure the passport and flu vaccination are in order; have your veterinarian check the schedule and the entry.
- Enter through the federation, not through the national system, and deliberately choose a low star level in an EU country.
- Arrange transport documents (passport, health certificate/TRACES, possibly a transporter's license) or outsource the transport.
- Book stabling and accommodation early and bring the passport with you physically.
- Arrange the prize money administration with a tax adviser once it becomes more than occasional.
For the exact, current rules and rates: consult knhs.nl and fei.org. These are authoritative and change per season.
See also: Glossary for the Pro Level · Level: For Professionals · All Guides